Thanksgiving Centerpiece Crafts

Wondering about your Thanksgiving table decor this year? Let your creative kiddos take the lead. These super-simple crafts are the perfect touch to your tablescape, and they don’t take a lot of pre-planning to get done. So forget about those generic-looking store-bought turkeys in Pilgrim hats, and check out our favorite crafts that double as Thanksgiving table decor below.

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Thankful Bin

Write prompts on crafts sticks that open up the table for a conversation about gratitude. You don’t even have to add color.

Glitter Pumpkins

Add sparkle to the Thanksgiving table with this easy craft! Grab a few gourds or small-sized pumpkins, and let the kiddos paint them with glue. To make this glitter-iffic art activity even better, let the glue drip down the sides of the gourds/pumpkins. Sprinkle sparkles on top, shake off the excess, and let the tabletop displays dry before adding them as cool centerpieces. The best part is, you can completely customize this for any Thanksgiving table. Choose glitter colors that match your place settings to create a cohesive look.

Pine Cone Pumpkins

Sure, a basket of random gourds makes for a rustically chic centerpiece. But stacking pumpkins on top of various forms of squash isn’t always the most creative way for your kiddo to spend Thanksgiving day. Instead, make your own with this pumpkin craft from Fireflies and Mud Pies!

Thanksgiving Fluffy Slime

Sometimes sitting at the dinner table and patiently waiting for the grown-ups to finish just isn’t fun for your tot. Scratch that, it’s never fun for your tot. Well, this turkey-shaped fluffy slime idea from Little Bins for Little Hands solves the “Mommmmmmy, I’m sooooo bored” problem. Package this recipe into a cute little see-through cup to create cute holiday decor. As the kids finish eating, they can take the slime out and play with it—giving you time to actually eat your meal!

Thankful Tree

What is your family thankful for? Instead of waiting until dinner to ponder this question, start early in the day (heck, start the day before). Give each family member a leaf to write what they’re thankful for. You can either have the kiddos craft paper leaves from fall-colored card stock or go with the real deal. Get extra-crafty and ask the kids to paint their leaves before adding what they’re thankful for in marker. Gather a few sticks and push them into a foam base or secure them in a tall vase. Before the meal starts, collect the thankful leaves. Punch holes in the top and thread yard through them. During the holiday meal, each family member/guest can read what they’re thankful for and hang the leaves on the “tree.”

Recycled Napkin Rings

You’ll get to recycle and reuse paper towel cardboard tubes with this craft. Cut them into pieces, and let the kids get to work painting them into cute little napkin rings. Want other ideas? Mini Monets and Mommies has plenty of other ways to transform cardboard into Thanksgiving table décor.

Popsicle Pals

Yeah, kids are all about popsicles. Even in November. So put those sticks to use for this adorable table-top craft from The Nerd’s Wife. This recycle-and-reuse art activity is just as Earth-friendly as it is adorable!

Printable Placemats

The kids can create crafty placemats that show exactly what they’re thankful for. Mama Papa Bubba’s printable design provides plenty of opportunity for thinking about the holiday while getting creative and coloring.

Top Turkeys

The kids need something to do at the Thanksgiving table. Of course, other than eat the fab feast that you’ve spent the day preparing. Cut out some craft felt shapes (you’ll need circles and ovals), add a few googley eyes, and let the kids go to town, pressing together craft felt turkey table toppers. They can puzzle together this project at the table or make them beforehand as place cards.

Gobble Gobble Tablecloth

Your grandma’s hand-sewn lace tablecloth is gorgeous. Just not with gravy and cranberry sauce on it. Pull double duty protecting the table and entertaining the kids with this turkey-time tablecloth. Spread out butcher paper, draw a few gobble gobblers, and let the kids get crafty with their crayons during dinner.

Playful Pumpkins

Who says pumpkins are just for Halloween? Turkey up your mini pumpkins with this idea from Toddler Approved. Table perk: they’re perfect place holders for the kiddos!

Thankful Placemat

What is your child thankful for? Learning about gratitude is kind of the name of the game on Thanksgiving Day. And your child thought the holiday was all about turkey and stuffing. Things are about to change with this crafty laminated placemat from Momtastic. It’s much more than simple holiday décor — it’s a thoughtful activity that will help the kids to think about why they should give thanks today!

Gorgeous Gourds

You need a Thanksgiving table centerpiece. So you pile on the gourds to add that decorative touch. But wait. Why not let the kids get creative and dress-up those plain ol’ gourds? Design Improvised can show you how to turn gourds into adorable little turkeys.

Pretty Placemat

A hand-drawn placemat takes the cake (okay, maybe the pumpkin pie) when it comes to your Thanksgiving table décor. Say Yes can show you how to make an elegant display that includes completely kid-made mats too!

LEGO Tree Craft

Calling all LEGO lovers! Add this fun, fall-themed handprint craft to your art repertoire, right in time for Thanksgiving. We guarantee you already have all the supplies you need around the house. The simple steps are perfect for younger ages, plus you get a sweet keepsake of their tiny hands through the years. For the how-to details, visit Little Bins for Little Hands.

— Erica Loop

Feature photo iStock

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